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Too Many Thomas Streets
My curiosity in the history of my street began a few years ago when I discovered an Estate Map which advertised a land sale of 23 spanking sites at Curd’s Hill, Greenslopes, in October 1925. A few weeks later, I glanced through a Harris’ Street and Road Directory from 1917, to find my same street had a [...]
Croquet popular pastime in Queensland, yesterday and today
Digitised images from State Library of Queensland show croquet as the sport of the day in Queensland starting in the mid 1800s. According to Croquet Australia, it provided the first opportunity for women to participate in an outdoor sport with men on an equal basis. Rumour has it that part of its popularity was that [...]
Queensland Places – Aurukun
The town we now know as Aurukun was originally known as the Archer River Mission Settlement. It was originally established in 1904 for the Presbyterian Church by the Reverend Arthur and Mrs. Richter who were assisted in the early settlement period by T.W. Holmes. The Richters led the establishment of the settlement up until 1913 [...]
The Music Box – part of Live! Queensland Band Culture
Promising something new and exciting every time you open it, The Music Box is a multi-faceted pop-up venue on State Library’s ground floor. Featuring performances, visual displays and audio treats, plus a chance to weave your own story into music history, drop in and see what’s on. To kick off the Live! Queensland Band Culture exhibition, [...]
Yugambeh Language App Launch
On 19th April, the Yugambeh Museum, Language and Heritage Research Centre at Beenleigh made history when it launched the first App for a Queensland Indigenous language. The language App features approximately 1,000 words and phrases collected from John Allen (Bulumm), a Yugambeh man who lived and worked in the Tamborine-Canungra region. By coincidence, 2013 celebrates [...]
State library hosting Regional Indigenous Languages Research Discovery Workshop in the Northern Peninsula Area from 14-16 May
State library, in partnership with local Council, is hosting a Regional Indigenous Languages Research Discovery Workshop in the Northern Peninsula Area, at the tip of Cape York, from 14-16 May. The first day of the workshop was held at the NPA Council Hall in New Mapoon. Workshop participants came from many surrounding communities including Bamaga, [...]
Queensland artist explores conceptual landscapes via historical maps
Guest blogger: Megan Cope, artist Megan Cope has created new knowledge for all by using recently digitised State Library military maps. A descendant of the Quandamooka people from North Stradbroke Island, this Queensland artist explores decolonising methodologies which have become a primary concern in her work. Her recent work focuses heavily on the toponymy and [...]
70th anniversary of the sinking of the AHS Centaur
Just after 4am on May 14, 1943, the Australian Hospital Ship Centaur was attacked without warning by a Japanese submarine, despite being well-lit and marked with the red crosses that should have assured her safety. A torpedo fired at the ship struck the oil fuel tank on its port side, resulting in an explosion that [...]
Queensland Places – Wenlock Goldfield, Cape York
The Wenlock Goldfield, formerly known as the Batavia Goldfield, was officially proclaimed in 1892 following the discovery of gold by William Baird at Retreat Creek, a tributary of the Wenlock River. The initial yields were high with output in 1893-4 being around two thousand ounces. As other nearby sources of gold were discovered the field [...]
It's Paniyiri time again. Brisbane's Greek Festival
Paniyiri is Queensland’s signature celebration of all things Greek and the state’s largest cultural festival. The event will be held from Saturday May 19 and Sunday May 20 at Musgrave Park and The Greek Club in South Brisbane. Now in...Show More Summary
Hold the line please – Brisbane Telephone Exchange
I notice that we recently passed the 40th anniversary of the invention of the mobile phone. The telephone is now ubiquitous but you might be surprised at how quickly it arrived in Brisbane after its invention. Alexander Graham Bell demonstrated the first practical telephone in 1876 and published details in the Scientific American on 6 [...]
A family history and local history digital community noticeboard
Guest blogger – Fiona Redhead – Coordinator, Nnub Nnub is digital community noticeboard and is based on the idea of a traditional community noticeboard as a place for anyone to share posts with a community. Nnub: Family History and Local History – Queensland website is available online and is also integrated with Twitter. People that typically post [...]
Queensland’s Collections, Access and Digitisation Survey Summary
State Library of Queensland has completed the Queensland’s Collections, Access and Digitisation Survey 2013. Sent to organisations throughout Queensland that house historical collections, the survey shows a very busy and diverse state of collecting of Queensland memory. Show More Summary
Rockhampton Indigenous Languages Workshop
Recently, the Fitzroy Basin Elders Committee invited the State Library of Queensland to present a languages workshop as part of the Our Land, Business and Resources symposium. The State Library’s Indigenous Languages Project for 2012-2013 builds...Show More Summary
A Night in the JOL
Our monthly Night in the JOL evening talk held in the John Oxley Library Reading Room was a sell out affair on the eve of ANZAC Day 2013. ABC Radio National’s Dr Kate Evans led a fascinating discussion with panelists Lieutenant-General Mark Evans (retired) AO, DSC, Chair of the Queensland Advisory Committee for the Commemoration [...]
New Accessions: James Toohey World War I Diaries
With the centenary of the outbreak of World War I approaching in 2014 the John Oxley Library has been fortunate to receive the diaries of a young World War I soldier, Gunner James Toohey, from South Brisbane. James Toohey was born in 1895, the son of Peter Toohey and Kate O’Kane of Logan Road, South Brisbane. [...]
Queensland Places – Cape York and the Voyage of the Duyfken
Cape York Peninsula will always have an important place in Australia’s history, as the site of the first authenticated landing by Europeans on the Australian continent. This landing and the associated brief explorations and observations took place in the early 17th century, by Dutch traders and navigators. The impetus for this early contact with the [...]
Students Experience ANZAC Collections in the John Oxley Library
In the lead up to ANZAC Day 2013 a number of student groups from Brisbane State High School and St Rita’s were able to examine original letters, diaries, photographs and medals held in the John Oxley Library. The John Oxley Library holds hundreds of publications relevant to Queenslanders and our experience of WWI including army regimental and [...]
World Expo 88, 25 Years of Memories
Brisbane, 30 April 1988. Uniforms have been fitted, performers have rehearsed, and construction has been completed for the 1988 World Exposition. The average temperature is a cool twenty-two degrees. People pour through the gates, into the pavilions or onto the monorail. More than 77,000 will visit by the end of the day. Expo 88 was [...]
James Maccormick Digital Story and the 25th Anniversary of Expo 88
Last year, we received the James Maccormick collection made up of correspondence, plans, drawings and reports regarding World Expo 88 (Acc: 28309, Box 16430). For some wonderful posts about this collection, James Maccormick, and World Expo 88, check out these blog stories: New Acquisition: James Maccormick Correspondence Regarding the Birth of World Expo 88 and [...]
